THE ROAD TO THE ZONE
What? Again?? ? Strange, however, these creatures are humans. First, they'll screw up big. And then they jump into it. And with pleasure. And they pay money for providing such pleasure. I don't understand. . .
It's good that the rally point is nearby. You can take a leisurely stroll through the deserted streets of the city that is just waking up. Although, even in such an early morning there are some strange individuals. Who are trying to escape from a heart attack. With a predetermined result. We will all be there. . .
It's amazing! An hour before the appointed time, buses are already standing on the square. Recognizing them is no problem. On the windshield there is an inscription - CHORNOBYL-TOUR. And a formidable sign of radioactivity. Don't fit. In the sense of a stranger. They know what that means.
And why can't drivers sleep? But there is an opportunity to choose the most favorite place. And leave your things. And then, fluffing up your peacock tail in front of a pretty girl, tell her fairy tales. Just before departure. What to do, all males are very pragmatic in their actions.
Departure from Kyiv does not cause any particular problems. Most are still watching their sweet dreams. So soon a mini caravan of two buses breaks out into operational space. The road at first, oddly enough, in a very good condition. However, it shouldn't be too surprising. After all, our VIPs go here to their huts. High fences end and immediately the coating returns to its original state.
First stop on the outskirts of the district center Ivankov. Here, at the fork in the road, there is a monument to the liquidators of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Pointed stele directed to heaven. A kind of prelude to the main theme. Because very soon the buses stop in front of the barrier.
The Dityatki checkpoint can be said to be the main entrance to the Chernobyl zone. Officially, what is behind the fence is called the exclusion zone. In turn, it is divided into three parts.
II - the most extensive or buffer stretched between two fences. External and internal, which is the border of a ten-kilometer zone. I - internal, the most severe in terms of exposure levels, where the nuclear power plant and the city of Pripyat are located. The shape resembles a tongue that stretched out towards the west. And, finally, III - which includes part of the territory of the city of Chernobyl. Here, people who work at the station or at other facilities of the exclusion zone live in a special position.
All this information can be gleaned from maps and explanatory texts on large stands installed near the checkpoint building. Nearby is a branded kiosk of the CHORNOBYL-TOUR company, painted in bright yellow. It's definitely impossible not to notice. The assortment includes souvenirs on the Chernobyl theme, food and drinks. They also offer tea and coffee. That's just the prices are ringing. Nothing to do about. You will not find competitors in the immediate vicinity during the day with fire.
But, it's time to admit who is who. The check at the border is very serious. Checking passports. Personal identification. Who is lucky. Strangers will not pass here. Spies, crazy stalkers and metalworkers have to go around gardens.
Meanwhile, the barrier rises, the buses pass a couple of tens of meters and... stop. Sanitary stop. Interestingly, the public toilet is only on this side. And if with the itch? Do what you want. The border is locked. . .
Finally, the joyful passengers return to their seats and the caravan continues to move. But soon stop again. The first object of the exclusion zone is the decontamination site. The same asphalt road departs from the road deep into the forest. In turn, there are dead ends from it.
At the end of each of them is a platform with a flyover. Dirty equipment was driven onto it and the poor soldiers tried to wash it. There were no special clothes. But the solutions were still there. An example is oxalic acid. What happened if this muck got on the skin is scary to even imagine. Moreover, the sound from cars is very cool.
Now nature takes its toll. Asphalt is gradually covered with moss. Tree roots break through it. Rusted parts of unknown mechanisms are scattered everywhere. And strange structures are visible among the trees.
It looks like there was a site for the processing or storage of liquid waste on a hillock. Huge underground reservoir. Rather, the whole network. Pipes and manholes come out of them. The reinforced concrete booth at the top is empty. Only broken glass is lying around. Not simple with radiation protection. Yellowish and ten centimeters thick.
It is interesting that now the radioactive background is very small. Of course more than in Kyiv. But, nevertheless... Or everything has already washed away. Or tourists are not specially taken to those places where you can pick up some kind of filth.
Many traces of animal life serve as confirmation that everything is more or less normal here. It seems that fallow deer and roe deer don't even mind basking in the sun in this place. Yes, and boars visit.
Back to the buses and transfer to the local capital - the city of Chernobyl. Although sightseeing is not included in the program. So everything is on track. Modern high-rise buildings are mostly in good condition. Of course, where people live. Stores and post office are open. It has its own administration. But private houses are gradually tightening the jungle. Not all. Some of them look very good. On their gates there is often a sign - The owner lives here.
There are some highlights along the way. For example, standing on a hill above the river St. Elijah's Church. Which is mentioned in the annals of the sixteenth century. It still works. And amazingly, it's clean! Why? This question should probably be asked to atheists.
The mausoleum of the local tzaddik Menachem Nakhum of Tver has also been preserved. He was the founder of an entire dynasty of Chernobyl Hasidim. Followers of this teaching still live in Israel. The community is called Chernobyl. By the way, the local synagogue is the only one of its kind in the world. Because it has not six, but a five-pointed star. And all because of the military registration and enlistment office, which at one time settled in her building.
Another throw and another checkpoint, - Leliv. This time at the entrance to the ten-kilometer zone. Inspection, check and the barrier rises. Go. In the distance, the buildings of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant are already visible. But, there a little later. In the meantime, turn onto the old Pripyat road.
Stop again. At the former transfer point. There was a transfer of concrete from clean to dirty cars. The latter cruised to the emergency station and back. The process looked very simple. On a small hillock stopped by concrete trucks. And they unloaded their cargo into receiving trays. From below, the solution directly fell into the Chernobyl transport.
You should be very careful at this point. It's better not to go out on the sidelines. They're ringing. Some especially tasty places are even marked with special signs with the same sign of radioactivity.
It's not far to Pripyat. But, along the way there is an interesting place. Moreover, a stele in the form of a torch serves as a guide. On both sides are the remains of the so-called red forest. Although, the most malicious part of it was cut down and buried.
The dosimeters in this place simply choke. And this is without even leaving the bus, on the go. It is somehow not very pleasant to see figures on the indicator exceeding 1000 micro-roentgens per hour. For comparison, in Kyiv the background is about 15 micro-roentgen per hour. It's good that this section is not wide, only two or three hundred meters.
